Super Mario 64

 Nintendo 64
User Score
9.1

Universal acclaim- based on 1818 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,635 out of 1818
  2. Mixed: 117 out of 1818
  3. Negative: 66 out of 1818
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  1. mugsy
    May 9, 2020
    10
    This game was absolutely mindblowing and revolutionary for 1996. The graphics might have aged but they still look nice for the eye because they are so cheerful and colorful. But what's best is that gameplay and controls haven't aged and they are still perfectly fluid and responsive, even for modern standards. You can still play this game in 2020 and have lots of fun.
  2. ChesterField
    May 1, 2020
    10
    The best 3D perspective platforms of the 90's generation and probably the best platforms to date. Easy to play hard to master. Great variety of worlds and enemies. Waste of imagination and creativity. Unforgettable soundtrack. Nothing bad to say about this game. 10/10.
  3. Warion99
    Apr 29, 2020
    10
    Great game very fun only problem is wonky camera angles my real rating would be 9.5 if decimals were allowed in ratings.
  4. NoxInTheMatrix
    Apr 28, 2020
    10
    Not much to be said about this one, for its time.. **** 10!
    Awesome music on this one!!
  5. Dave300
    Apr 24, 2020
    10
    One of the first 3D games ever made and still one of the best! Gameplay and level design is amazing. This game is so fun and a masterpiece. This was the best way to turn Mario to 3D from 2D! Everyone must play this game!
  6. Kacak123
    Apr 9, 2020
    10
    Great game............................................................................................
  7. Kacak321
    Apr 8, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Great game..................................................................… Expand
  8. Descole
    Apr 6, 2020
    10
    This game is perfect. Everything in it is just perfect. Who hasn't played it missed one of the most revolutionary games ever
  9. PureReviews
    Mar 30, 2020
    8
    This game isn't pefect. The controls are garbage, we all know that. But some stages are really bad, but most are good. Shifting sand land, wet dry world, dire dire docks, snowman's land, everything above tall tall mountain, are horrible! Other stages make up for it though.
  10. Jjdm11
    Mar 23, 2020
    8
    Super Mario 64 is the first mainstream analog game and it shows clunky and outdated controls just play on ds or emulator . The level design is amazing and the speed run tech save this game from a lower score it’s infinitely replayable .The emulated version is much better and you can add mods ,make sure you buy the game from Eshop before you mod so that games can be continued to be made .
  11. Bcap1415
    Mar 1, 2020
    9
    If not for the camera, this would be a ten. At the time it came out I got frustrated with the camera and the fact that you basically had to guess what you had to do to get the stars. The name of the star before the level started would give a clue but not a great one. I would have also liked to be able to get Yoshi without having to get all the stars. Other than that, the game ages well andIf not for the camera, this would be a ten. At the time it came out I got frustrated with the camera and the fact that you basically had to guess what you had to do to get the stars. The name of the star before the level started would give a clue but not a great one. I would have also liked to be able to get Yoshi without having to get all the stars. Other than that, the game ages well and is still a great game to play nearly 25 years later… Expand
  12. banzar
    Feb 24, 2020
    10
    Super Mario 64 ist nicht nur ein Wegbereiter der 3D-Platformer, sondern auch bis heute der beste Vertreter des Genres. Als Launch-Titel der N64 traf es mit seinem innovativen Gameplay, dem zeitlosen Soundtrack, und nicht zuletzt seinem ikonischen Protagonisten Mario einen besonderen Nerv. Mario wird von Prinzessin Peach zum Schloss eingeladen, als der böse Bowser sie - wer hätte dasSuper Mario 64 ist nicht nur ein Wegbereiter der 3D-Platformer, sondern auch bis heute der beste Vertreter des Genres. Als Launch-Titel der N64 traf es mit seinem innovativen Gameplay, dem zeitlosen Soundtrack, und nicht zuletzt seinem ikonischen Protagonisten Mario einen besonderen Nerv. Mario wird von Prinzessin Peach zum Schloss eingeladen, als der böse Bowser sie - wer hätte das gedacht - entführt, und Mario herausfordert, die Power-Sterne zu finden, die er innerhalb der Gemälde im Schloss versteckt hat. Durch die Oberfläche dieser Gemälde gelangt Mario in die verschiedenen Welten des Spiels. Diese reichen von Wiesenlandschaft, über Eis- und Wasserwelten, bis hin zu wärmeren Orten wie Wüsten und Vulkanen, und decken damit die klassische Mario-Palette ab. Die Jump&Run-Mechaniken, die mit wenigen Knöpfen eine Vielzahl von Möglichkeiten eröffnen, sind intuitiv und lassen sich so flüssig und reaktiv aneinander reihen, dass es eine Freude ist, die verschiedenen Hindernisse auf der Suche nach den Sternen zu überwinden. Die offene Gestaltung der Spielwelt und die vielen versteckten Geheimnisse sorgen für große Spielerfreiheit und Erkundungsdrang. Super Mario 64 zählt zu den absoluten Meilensteinen der Videospielgeschichte und ist auch heute noch absolut zu empfehlen.… Expand
  13. Krossbone
    Feb 3, 2020
    4
    The original version of Super Mario 64 is one of the most overrated games of all time.
    Graphically, it's aged about as nicely as a carton of milk that came out in 1996. Oh wait, this trash game got released in '96.
    Jokes aside, the graphics are pathetic and have aged poorly. The controls are fine, but there's WAY too many glitches that can either break the game or make the game way too    The original version of Super Mario 64 is one of the most overrated games of all time.
    Graphically, it's aged about as nicely as a carton of milk that came out in 1996. Oh wait, this trash game got released in '96.
    Jokes aside, the graphics are pathetic and have aged poorly.
    The controls are fine, but there's WAY too many glitches that can either break the game or make the game way too easy (looking at the backwards long jump).

    People get on Sonic '06 for having tons of glitches, yet in a playthrough of that game, I haven't experienced more than 2 unless I went out of my way to find them. Mario 64? You can run into these glitches on the fly, and often at that.

    And the plot is just another "Bowser kidnapped the princess" scenario. It doesn't need to be a huge plot, just, I don't know, try to be unique? Mario Galaxy has a much more interesting story to tell, and even in 64 DS it at least mixes it up with Bowser simultaneously kidnapping Mario, Wario, and Luigi alongside Peach

    Speaking of 64 DS, I feel no more need to review this ****** game. Quit idolizing it, it isn't that good. Go play 64 DS instead. More content, better graphics.    … Expand
  14. weskergamer
    Dec 19, 2019
    9
    When i first play this masterpiece i couldn't stop playing it for days, is one of the most fun games ever made
  15. Red_Eileen
    Nov 20, 2019
    10
    Just the best of all time.

    Good music, good level design, you can go to the end or take your time to explore everything, you can also discover a lot of secrets for this genre. Just perfect actually.
  16. JayNxtGen
    Nov 10, 2019
    10
    One of my favourite games of all time simple as that.

    The world is amazing and blew my childhood mind away not to mention the perfect and precise handling of Mario. Nintendo took a risk by bringing Mario to the 3D world and wow did it pay off.
  17. JcCrowe2099
    Oct 4, 2019
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Okay, I understand this game was a revolutionary back in 1996, but this isn’t 1996, this is 2019, so the first thing I can say is that this game did NOT age well, like, at all. Controlling the game feels like riding a Big Wheel. Also, the stars can be so confusing at times that I have to look up a guide. The story is the same Mario story as almost every other Mario game, which is boring. The melee moves do literally nothing since you can just jump on or dive at enemies. Also, this game is very unpolished, even for a 1996 game. But, I can say I like the music, despite the same few tracks being reheard throughout the game. In conclusion, Mario 64 might’ve been a good game at the time, but it’s really lost it’s impact and gotten slightly worse with each new Mario game being so far ahead of it and having much better controls. I do feel like the game could be done justice with a proper Switch remake, though.… Expand
  18. Indigo_
    Sep 27, 2019
    9
    Super Mario 64 was released on the Nintendo 64 in September of 1996. I will be reviewing this game by looking at the game and it’s contemporaries when it came out 23 years ago.

    Story: 7/10 At this point, the same Mario story had been repeated three times (SMB, SMB3, SMW). Luckily, SM64 changes it up a bit with Peach being locked away within her own castle. Bowser has kidnapped Peach and    Super Mario 64 was released on the Nintendo 64 in September of 1996. I will be reviewing this game by looking at the game and it’s contemporaries when it came out 23 years ago.

    Story: 7/10

    At this point, the same Mario story had been repeated three times (SMB, SMB3, SMW). Luckily, SM64 changes it up a bit with Peach being locked away within her own castle. Bowser has kidnapped Peach and you must collect power stars to unlock more of the castle rooms. Overall, a decent story for the time, but nothing special.

    Level Design: 8/10

    This game’s level design is mostly pretty good. Bomb-Omb Battlefield is a great first level to mess around in, and Whomp’s Fortress is my favorite level in the game. Even though the game is held together by a thread, as you can use glitches and exploits to beat the game with 0 stars, you most likely will have a stable experience if you don’t have knowledge of these game-breaking strategies. Some of the later levels like Jolly Roger Bay and Rainbow Ride are slow and tedious. SM64 should be about constant action, as you move around these sandboxes. But these levels are slow and monotonous to play, which goes against this game’s design philosophy.

    Control: 9/10

    Contrary to the majority opinion, I still think SM64 controls beautifully. I rarely have problems with the camera and the N64 controller was made for this game. Diving and long jumping helps make this game just that much more fun to run around in and allows for some sick movement through levels.

    Completion: 10/10

    This game has 120 stars, and that’s about it. The only other “collectibles” are coins and red coins, which are used to get more stars. But in my opinion that’s all the game needs. There are 105 stars spread across 15 stages with seven each. The remaining 15 stars are found in secret stages that are usually the linear segments of the game. Super Mario 64 will only last you around ten hours on your first play through, but this game has so much replay-ability. Case and point-

    Speedrunning: 10/10

    Speedrunning SM64 is a wild ride, no matter what category your running.

    0 Star - Constant glitches through walls and barriers, as well as highly optimized movement.

    1 Star - Same as 0 Star but you complete the Bowser 2 requirement of getting one star in Dire, Dire Docks.

    16 Star - BLJ’s, optimized movement and clipping through walls in around a quarter of an hour if your the best.

    70 Star - Pick which stars are the quickest and use only a few glitches to beat the game.

    120 Star - Complete the entire game.

    If you have a mild interest in Speedrunning and you like this game, give it a try.

    Final Score: 8.8/10

    Super Mario 64 has aged very well compared to other games at the time and deserves being regarded as a 90’s classic. A must play if you haven’t tried it.    … Expand
  19. MaxShibe
    Sep 7, 2019
    6
    This Game is overrated. I mean, it can be fun, but it aged rather poorly, the camera is probably the worse i have ever seen in a 3D platformer, the Gameplay is pretty stiff and clunky, and it can get pretty repetitive. I'd recommend later Mario Games that improved on the formula rather than this one.
  20. robertoiglesias
    Sep 1, 2019
    9
    Ah, Super Mario 64. A very creative Mario game that has a mostly fabulous adventure waiting for you.
  21. Liopleruidon
    Aug 17, 2019
    3
    This game is VERY overrated and the bowser fights are repetitive. You cannot play as Luigi which is upsetting.All you ever do in the game is do boring fetch quests and collect 8 red coins . I suggest anybody to buy mario kart 64,mario party 1, or paper mario .Grab the power star , collect the coins, punch the enimies into lava,and all those boring fetch quest gets annoying after awhile.TheThis game is VERY overrated and the bowser fights are repetitive. You cannot play as Luigi which is upsetting.All you ever do in the game is do boring fetch quests and collect 8 red coins . I suggest anybody to buy mario kart 64,mario party 1, or paper mario .Grab the power star , collect the coins, punch the enimies into lava,and all those boring fetch quest gets annoying after awhile.The challenges are unrewarding.I am saving money to buy a copy of mario party 1 which is better than mario 64. ,… Expand
  22. Froschinteich
    Aug 5, 2019
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Maybe the best Mario game of all time. The boss fights are great and have good ideas, like Bowser or the boss in the pyramid. Every Mario-fan should have this game.… Expand
  23. zmandude2
    Jul 17, 2019
    9
    This is one of the most revolutionary games in gaming history and is still fun to play even today. The controls are somewhat dated today, but they are still good. Some of those stars particularly in Peach's castle are so difficult to find to the point where it feels like those several offending stars were put in to sell Nintendo Power magazines. Most of the stars just require explorationThis is one of the most revolutionary games in gaming history and is still fun to play even today. The controls are somewhat dated today, but they are still good. Some of those stars particularly in Peach's castle are so difficult to find to the point where it feels like those several offending stars were put in to sell Nintendo Power magazines. Most of the stars just require exploration and the levels give you a hint for each star.… Expand
  24. nervioso2009
    Jul 2, 2019
    9
    Un juego absolutamente revolucionario que marcó un antes y un después en la historia de los videojuegos. Uno de los primeros juegos en 3D, y uno de los mejores juegos de Mario, si no el mejor.

    9.5/10
  25. DiegoEscalona
    May 27, 2019
    10
    ``Espectacular´´
    Probablemente este ha sido el título que ha marcado la diferencia total en la historia de los juegos de Nintendo, se trata de la primera entrega en utilizar texturas 3D para la consola de Nintendo 64 en el año 1996.
    La historia en sí es muy sencilla, un fontanero de baja estatura, pelo castaño y bigote de color negro. Debe salvar a una princesa que fue secuestrada en    ``Espectacular´´
    Probablemente este ha sido el título que ha marcado la diferencia total en la historia de los juegos de Nintendo, se trata de la primera entrega en utilizar texturas 3D para la consola de Nintendo 64 en el año 1996.

    La historia en sí es muy sencilla, un fontanero de baja estatura, pelo castaño y bigote de color negro. Debe salvar a una princesa que fue secuestrada en su propio castillo, siendo raptada por el típico antagonista de la saga: Bowser. Ya con el hecho de saber que la sinopsis es casi igual al ´Debut´ de Super Mario en 1985, y además que ella se encuentra encerrada en su propio castillo, no presenta gran amenaza y tampoco es la gran cosa, así que. ¿Por qué este juego es tan desafiante y exitoso en ello?

    Porque es honesto, el juego sabe que tiene una premisa simple, así que la explota, transforma y evoluciona de maneras inimaginables. Haciendo a nuestro protagonista casi imposible la tarea de encontrar a la princesa de una forma rápida y sencilla.
    La dificultad siempre está en un nivel desafiante tanto para jóvenes como mayores, tanto para jugadores con experiencia, como para aquellos que utilizan por primera vez una videoconsola, y esto representa el gran trabajo llevado a cabo en la construcción de los controles y la jugabilidad balanceada.

    El Castillo, el cual es el escenario principal donde se desarrolla todo el juego. Se presenta como un universo entero, el cual está plagado de mundos, cientos de estrellas, misiones, y jamás se te da la oportunidad de quedarte ahí sin nada que hacer, siempre surge algo nuevo que explorar y descubrir.
    Para aquellos que jueguen este título por primera vez probablemente les parecerá casi infinita la exploración. Recuerda mucho al castillo de ´Hogwards´ de la saga Harry Potter, el cual está lleno de pasajes secretos, trampas, monstruos y misterios, algo muy similar al castillo de este juego, el cual posee un diseño arquitectónico totalmente perfecto.

    La banda sonora, probablemente una de las más icónicas y memorables en la industria de los videojuegos. Cuenta con distintos temas aplicados para cada nivel, pero el mejor sin dudas es el del escenario principal, el cual suena como una orquesta sinfónica de sintetizador que refleja a la perfección la paz y comodidad que ofrece el ambiente. Probablemente el único problema que encuentro con el juego es el manejo de la cámara, el cual a veces resulta un verdadero obstáculo para poder llevar a cabo las acciones de el personaje, pero nada que arruine la experiencia en general.

    En resumen, me atrevo a decir que Super Mario 64 es uno de los juegos más espectaculares, fantásticos e imaginativos que se hayan creado, todo esto con una dirección perfectamente sublime. Aún para la fecha sigue cautivando con su maravillosa estructura, mecánica, musicalización, gráficos y esplendida jugabilidad, todo esto lo que lo ha convertido en una figura icónica y ejemplar para los diseños de entregas posteriores. Además de ser uno de esos títulos que logran transportar al jugador en su totalidad, a su hermoso y perfectamente construido mundo. Una autentica e indudable obra maestra.

    Jugabilidad: 10/10
    Personajes: 9/10
    Historia: 7/10
    Diseño: 10/10
    Entretenimiento: 10/10    … Expand
  26. BeboFett
    May 17, 2019
    8
    At the time that the platforms became 3D, a title arrived that would lay the foundations; Super Mario 64. Without a doubt it is one of the best videoganes of the N64, although the console left along with this one. Very good mechanics for the time, a functional control (despite the problems of the command of the N64), scenarios and varied enemies, pure fun in 3D. Possibly the best seriesAt the time that the platforms became 3D, a title arrived that would lay the foundations; Super Mario 64. Without a doubt it is one of the best videoganes of the N64, although the console left along with this one. Very good mechanics for the time, a functional control (despite the problems of the command of the N64), scenarios and varied enemies, pure fun in 3D. Possibly the best series that gave the jump from 2D to 3D in the best way, a classic.… Expand
  27. GrimStomper
    Apr 28, 2019
    9
    This game revolutionized 3D gaming and is everything you've come to expect from a Super Mario game. The only issue with the game is the camera which can make levels more difficult than necessary. I've enjoyed the game a lot and 100% the game which was difficult, but in the best kind of way.
  28. Bitbat
    Apr 28, 2019
    9
    The is one of the best games I have ever played on the system. There are huge levels, each providing a unique experience that the other levels do not have. One of the things I love about this game is the controls and the movement, which if you are a fast player you can take shortcuts around the level such as surfing on a turtles shell, etc.
  29. hello123asdf
    Apr 27, 2019
    10
    This is great. Period. I don’t even need to Explain why... Really! You know why.
  30. TheNiceGuyHere
    Mar 17, 2019
    9
    This has been one of the most revolutionary games of all time for 22 years and should be love by all platformer fans. Good controls, Fun mission structure, Mario, this is the game you need.
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best N64 Game of 1996
1
#1 Most Discussed N64 Game of 1996
1
#1 Most Shared N64 Game of 1996

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
94

Universal acclaim - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. Nintendorks
    80
    The distribution of power stars in the levels is horrendous. I think 7 stars in one level is more than enough, don't you think? I understand that there are memory constraints, but there either could have been less stars overall, or 1 (maybe 2) more level(s). Definately a problem.
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  2. Electric Playground
    100
    It has quickly grown to become the standard by which almost all other games are measured.
    Read full review
  3. Gaming Maxx
    99
    This is definitely a game no game collection should be without...Seriously!
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